UvA-DARE is a service provided by the library of the University of Amsterdam (https://dare.uva.nl)
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository)
Object drop in the L1 acquisition of Dutch
Thrift, K.E.
Publication date
2003
Link to publication
Citation for published version (APA):
Thrift, K. E. (2003). Object drop in the L1 acquisition of Dutch. LOT.
General rights
It is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), other than for strictly personal, individual use, unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons).
Disclaimer/Complaints regulations
If you believe that digital publication of certain material infringes any of your rights or (privacy) interests, please let the Library know, stating your reasons. In case of a legitimate complaint, the Library will make the material inaccessible and/or remove it from the website. Please Ask the Library: https://uba.uva.nl/en/contact, or a letter to: Library of the University of Amsterdam, Secretariat, Singel 425, 1012 WP Amsterdam, The Netherlands. You will be contacted as soon as possible.
xi
Acknowledgements
First and foremost, I must thank my research supervisors, Anne Baker, Hans den Besten and Aafke Hulk. Without their support and active participation in every step of the process, this thesis may never have been completed. Not only did they give generously of their time and expertise while I was studying in the Netherlands, but they also remained involved when I returned to Canada. Thank you very much for your encouragement and understanding over these past six years.
I would also like to thank my committee, including Hans Bennis, Angeliek van Hout, Peter Jordens, Frank Weerman and Frank Wijnen. Hans Bennis was my first-year syntax instructor at HIL/University of Leiden. His teaching style and enthusiasm for the topic made a strong impression on me and I have always carried positive memories of his classes with me. I discussed early versions of the Aspect Phrase Hypothesis with Angeliek van Hout. She raised many invaluable points in our discussion and I hope that I have managed to address several of them here. Although I have not had the opportunity to work with Peter Jordens, Frank Weerman or Frank Wijnen previously, the impact of their work on my own research is clear throughout this dissertation.
In February 2000, I went to UCLA for several weeks to study with Nina Hyams. My time at UCLA was very productive and working with Nina was a fantastic experience. Much of the analysis presented in Chapter 6 is owed to my time in Los Angeles.
Rob Schoonen at the University of Amsterdam generously assisted me with the statistical analysis in this dissertation and was incredibly patient with my lack of knowledge in number-crunching. Ilana Mezhevich proofread this thesis in its entirety on more than one occasion, so I would like to thank her for her time as well. I must also thank two colleagues at the Department of National Defence, Dennis Murphy and Jason Greeley, for giving me the time off to have this thesis rushed to the printer.
I completed my MA thesis at the University of Calgary and in the fall of 2000, I went back to Calgary to write part of my dissertation. The department at the University of Calgary welcomed me back and gave me the opportunity to teach an undergraduate course, as well as participate in several seminars. I would like to thank Eithne Guilfoyle and Andrew Carnie for encouraging me to pursue graduate work in linguistics. Elizabeth Ritter has been an invaluable sounding board and reality check in linguistics and life. Several faculty members at the University of Calgary have created lasting impressions on my academic career in linguistics: John Archibald (who taught me my first course in language acquisition), Michael
xii
Dobrovolsky (who supervised my undergraduate thesis), Martha McGinnis (who graciously read my manuscript when I felt completely lost), Robert Murray and Hotze Rullmann. I also thank Linda Toth for her help with paperwork and everything else (literally).
Getting through my dissertation required more than academic support, and I have many, many people to thank for listening to and, at times, having to tolerate me over the past six years. I cannot begin to express my gratitude and appreciation for their friendship. Olga Borik, Paz Gonzalez, Nancy Kula and Malte Zimmermann have been unwavering in their personal and professional support during the time I lived in the Netherlands and after I returned to Canada. Laurie Henderson and Louise Grogan, my fellow Canadians in Holland – we shared the ins and outs of being so far away from home. For many memorable evenings out and in, I must thank everyone above as well as Patrick Brandt, Bert Botma and Erik Jan van der Torre. I would also like to thank Ineke Buma who opened both her home and heart to me when I first arrived in the Netherlands.
I want to make a special mention of those friends at home who stood by me when I left, when I came back and all the time in between: Jen Abel for showing me what real strength can accomplish, Valerie Baggaley for her common sense and wisdom in all things and Andrea Clarke for her passion for life and wicked sense of humour. Many pleasant evenings were spent at the University of Calgary Grad Lounge and Kilkenny’s pub with the graduate students from the department of linguistics.
Most importantly, none of this could have happened without my family. My grandmother, Ileen Hunter, offered her encouragement through phone calls and letters every week – despite my own limited devotion to correspondence. With his own brand of humour, Kyle Lund has been kind and supportive to me over the last several years. To my parents, Bill and Gayle, and my sister, Samantha – it would be an understatement to say that, as a family, we have experienced some ups and downs in the past six years. Every time I was ready to quit (and I cannot even count the times…), you did not let me and I am forever grateful. This dissertation stands as a testament to your unconditional love and encouragement.
